Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Are sediments a risk? An ecotoxicological assessment of sediments from a quarry pond of the Upper Rhine River

  • Sediments, Sec 1 • Sediment Quality and Impact Assessment • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Contaminated sediments are an important exposure pathway for the aquatic fauna in the Rhine River. We applied bioassays with the aim to characterize the ecotoxicological hazard potential of sediments of an oxbow lake of the Rhine River, especially to fish. Potential effects on fish and water flea were evaluated indirectly by applying in vitro and in vivo bioassays in the laboratory. Results were compared with those of the official German risk assessment of dredged sediments.

Materials and methods

Sediments taken from 13 sites along a 600-m transect line were tested for acute toxicity to water flea (Daphnia magna immobilization test), teratogenicity, and embryotoxicity (sediment contact test with Danio rerio), as well as for cytotoxicity (neutral red retention assay with RTL-W1 cells) and estrogenic effects (lyticase-assisted yeast estrogen screen (L-YES) assay). The tests were conducted using pore water, organic extracts, or native sediments. Spatial patterns of the measured effects were also assessed.

Results and discussion

Virtually all samples induced estrogenic, teratogenic, embryotoxic, and cytotoxic effects, but no acute toxicity on D. magna was observed. Cytotoxicity was in accordance with previous studies on the Rhine, Neckar, and Danube Rivers. Estrogenic effects were in the range of estradiol equivalent (EEQ) values detected in UK estuaries. Although sediment contact tests with D. rerio embryos showed virtually no mortality, sublethal effects were common. Some of the effects increased with increasing distance to the main channel.

Conclusions

The test with D. magna is, along with bacteria and algae toxicity assays, an important part of the German standard risk assessment for sediments. However, it failed to identify the ecological hazard of our sediment samples to fish. Our results indicate that adverse effects on fish are possible and suggest the need for revising risk assessment procedures in order to address the risk for this important organism group in aquatic ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Admiraal W, Van der Velde G, Smit H, Cazemier WG (1993) The rivers Rhine and Meuse in the Netherlands: present state and signs of ecological recovery. Hydrobiologia 265:97–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahlf W (1995) Biotests an Sedimenten. In: Steinberg C, Bernhardt H, Klappner H (eds) Handbuch Angewandte Limnologie Teil Aquatische Ökotoxikologie. ecomed Verlag, Landsberg, Germany, pp 1–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahlf W, Hollert H, Neumann-Hensel H, Ricking M (2002) A guidance for the assessment and evaluation of sediment quality: a German approach based on ecotoxicological and chemical measurements. J Soils Sediments 2:37–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allner B (2003) Freilanduntersuchungen zur Geschlechterverteilung einheimischer Fischpopulationen. Gobio GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Asselman NEM, Middelkoop H (1995) Floodplain sedimentation: quantities, patterns and processes. Earth Surface Process Landforms 20:481–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babich H, Borenfreund E (1992) Neutral red assay for toxicology in vitro. In: Watson RR (ed) In vitro methods of toxicology. CRC - Press, Boca Raton, USA, pp 238–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrens A, Schirmer K, Bols NC, Segner H (2001) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as inducers of cytochrome P4501A enzyme activity in the rainbow trout liver cell line, RTL-W1, and in primary cultures of rainbow trout hepatocytes. Environ Toxicol Chem 20:632–643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • BfG (2000) Handlungsanweisung für den Umgang mit Baggergut im Binnenland (HABAB-WSV). Koblenz, Germany, p 35

    Google Scholar 

  • BfG (2004) Untersuchung und Beurteilung von Sedimentablagerungen im Lampertheimer Altrhein. Altrhein-km 0,0 bis 2,1; Altrhein-Mündung bei Rhein-km 440,3. Koblenz, Germany

  • BfG (2005) BfG 1474: Ergebnisse aus dem begleitenden Untersuchungsprogramm für die Umlagerung von Baggergut in die fließende Welle unterhalb der Staustufe Iffezheim/Rhein. Koblenz, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • BfG (2007) Standardarbeitsanweisung. SOP 1–04. BfG, Koblenz, Germany, p 5

    Google Scholar 

  • Brack W, Klamer HJC, Lopez de Alda MJ, Barceló D (2007) Effect-directed analysis of key toxicants in European River Basins. A review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 14:30–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braunbeck T, Böttcher M, Hollert H, Kosmehl T, Lammer E, Leist E, Rudolf M, Seitz N (2005) Towards an alternative for the acute fish LC50 test in chemical assessment: the fish embryo toxicity test goes multi-species—an update. ALTEX 22:87–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Braunbeck T, Brauns A, Keiter S, Hollert H, Schwartz P (2009) Fischpopulationen unter Stress–das Beispiel des Unteren Neckars. Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung 21:197–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brian JV, Harris CA, Scholze M, Backhaus T, Booy P, Lamoree M, Pojana G, Jonkers N, Runnalls T, Bonfà A, Marcomini A, Sumpter JP (2005) Accurate prediction of the response of freshwater fish to a mixture of estrogenic chemicals. Environ Health Perspect 113:721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brühne M, Scharbert A (2003) Die Erschließung des Bienener Altrheins für die Rheinfischfauna http://www.nz-kleve.de/fileadmin/dokumente/fachartikel/Br%C3%BChne_Scharbert_Dornicker-Schleuse_gesch%C3%BCtzt.pdf Accessed 26 May 2015:1–15

  • Burton GA (1991) Assessing the toxicity of freshwater sediments. Environ Toxicol Chem 10:1585–1627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charles GD, Gennings C, Zacharewski TR, Gollapudi BB, Carney EW (2002) An approach for assessing estrogen receptor-mediated interactions in mixtures of three chemicals: a pilot study. Toxicol Sci 68:349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Zwart D, Slooff W (1993) The pT value as an environmental toxicity indicator. Sci Total Environ Suppl 1993:1203–1210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DIN (2001) Deutsche Einheitsverfahren zur Wasser-, Abwasser- und Schlammuntersuchung: Suborganismische Testverfahren (Gruppe T) Teil 6: Giftigkeit gegenüber Fischen: Bestimmung der nicht akut giftigen Wirkung von Abwasser auf die Entwicklung von Fischeiern über Verdünnungsstufen (T 6). DIN 38415–6. Beuth Verlag, Berlin, Germany

  • Duong CN, Schlenk D, Chang NI, Kim SD (2009) The effect of particle size on the bioavailability of estrogenic chemicals from sediments. Chemosphere 76:395–401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feiler U, Höss S, Ahlf W, Gilberg D, Hammers-Wirtz M, Hollert H, Meller M, Neumann-Hensel H, Ottermanns R, Seiler TB, Spira D, Heiniger P (2013) Sediment contact tests as a tool for the assessment of sediment quality in German waters. Environ Toxicol Chem 32:144–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith P, Harris WA (2003) The zebrafish as a tool for understanding the biology of visual disorders. Seminars Cell Develop Biol 14:11–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grund S, Higley E, Schönenberger R, Suter MJ, Giesy JP, Braunbeck T, Hecker M, Hollert H (2011) The endocrine disrupting potential of sediments from the Upper Danube River (Germany) as revealed by in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18:446–460

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hallare AV, Seiler T-B, Hollert H (2011) The versatile, changing, and advancing roles of fish in sediment toxicity assessment—a review. J Soils Sediments 11:141–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harkey GA, Landrum PF, Klaine SJ (1994) Comparison of whole‐sediment, elutriate and pore‐water exposures for use in assessing sediment‐associated organic contaminants in bioassays. Environ Toxicol Chem 13:1315–1329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes TB, Case P, Chui S, Chung D, Haeffele C, Haston K, Lee M, Mai PV, Marjuoa Y, Parker J, Tsui M (2006) Pesticide mixtures, endocrine disruption, and amphibian declines: are we underestimating the impact? Environ Health Perspect 114:40–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hecker M, Hollert H (2009) Effect-directed analysis (EDA) in aquatic ecotoxicology: state of the art and future challenges. Environ Sci Pollut Res 16:607–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heger S, Blum K, Agler MT, Maletz S, Schäffer A, Seiler T-B, Angenent LT, Hollert H (2012) Biotests for hazard assessment of biofuel fermentation. Energy Environ Sci 5:9778–9788

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heimann W, Sylvester M, Seiler TB, Hollert H, Schulz R (2011) Sediment toxicity in a connected oxbow lake of the Upper Rhine (Germany): EROD induction in fish cells. J Soils Sediments 11:1279–1291

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heise S, Förstner U (2006) Risks from historical contaminated sediments in the Rhine basin, the interactions between sediments and water. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 261–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollert H, Durr M, Erdinger L, Braunbeck T (2000) Cytotoxicity of settling particulate matter and sediments of the Neckar River (Germany) during a winter flood. Environ Toxicol Chem 19:528–534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hollert H, Keiter S, König N, Rudolf M, Ulrich M, Braunbeck T (2003) A new sediment contact assay to assess particle-bound pollutants using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. J Soils Sediments 3:197–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Höss S, Ahlf W, Fahnenstich C, Gilberg D, Hollert H, Melbye K, Meller M, Hammers-Wirtz M, Heininger P, Neumann-Hensel H, Ottermanns R, Ratte HT, Seiler TB, Spira D, Weber J, Feiler U (2010) Variability of sediment-contact tests in freshwater sediments with low-level anthropogenic contamination—determination of toxicity thresholds. Environ Pollut 158:2999–3010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huberman E, Sachs L, Yang SK, Gelboin V (1976) Identification of mutagenic metabolites of benzo (a) pyrene in mammalian cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 73:607

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hünemörder KF (2004) Die Frühgeschichte der globalen Umweltkrise und die Formierung der deutschen Umweltpolitik (1959–1973) vol 53. Historische Mitteilungen - Beihefte. Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • IKSR (2002) Kontamination von Rheinfischen 2000. Berichte der Internationalen Kommision zum Schutz des Rheins (IKSR) 124:76

    Google Scholar 

  • IKSR (2003) Rhein Bestandsaufnahme der Emissionen prioritärer Stoffe 2000. Berichte der Internationalen Kommision zum Schutz des Rheins (IKSR) 134:77

    Google Scholar 

  • IKSR (2007) Qualitätskomponente Fische – Monitoring Rheinfischfauna. Berichte der Internationalen Kommision zum Schutz des Rheins (IKSR) 173:89

    Google Scholar 

  • IKSR (2009a) Geschichte - Bilanz des Aktionsprogramms (1986–2000).1

  • IKSR (2009b) Sedimentmanagementplan Rhein. Berichte der Internationalen Kommision zum Schutz des Rheins (IKSR) 175:101

  • Janssen PAH, Lambert JGD, Vethaak A, Goos HJT (1997) Environmental pollution caused elevated concentrations of oestradiol and vitellogenin in the female flounder, Platichthys flesus (L). Aquatic Toxicol 39:195–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jezierska B, Lugowska K, Witeska M (2009) The effects of heavy metals on embryonic development of fish (a review). Fish Physiol Biochem 35:625–640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kammann U, Vobach M, Wosniok W (2006) Toxic effects of brominated indoles and phenols on zebrafish embryos. Arch Environ Contamin Toxicol 51:97–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kay AL, Jones RG, Reynard NS (2006) RCM rainfall for UK flood frequency estimation. II. Climate change results. J Hydrol 318:163–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keiter S, Rastall A, Kosmehl T, Wurm K, Erdinger L, Braunbeck T, Hollert H (2006) Ecotoxicological assessment of sediment, suspended matter and water samples in the upper Danube River—a pilot study in search for the causes for the decline of fish catches. Environ Sci Pollut Res 13:308–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kidd KA, Blanchfield PJ, Mills KH, Palace VP, Evans RE, Lazorchak JM, Flick RW (2007) Collapse of a fish population after exposure to a synthetic estrogen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 104:8897–8901

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klee N, Gustavsson L, Kosmehl T, Engwall M, Erdinger L, Braunbeck T, Hollert H (2004) Changes in toxicity and genotoxicity of industrial sewage sludge samples containing nitro- and amino-aromatic compounds following treatment in bioreactors with different oxygen regimes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 11:313–320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • König N (2002) Der Zebrabärbling (Danio rerio) in Fischeitest und Comet-Assay - Embryotoxikologische Untersuchung von Rheinsedimenten, Diploma thesis. Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany, p 64

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosmehl T, Krebs F, Manz W, Braunbeck T, Hollert H (2007) Differentiation between bioavailable and total hazard potential of sediment-induced DNA fragmentation as measured by the comet assay with zebrafish embryos. J Soils Sediments 7:377–387

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs F (1999) The pT-Method as a Hazard Assessment Scheme for sediments and dredged material. In: Blaise C, Férard J-F (eds) Small-scale freshwater toxicity investigations, vol 2. Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, Germany, pp 115–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukkonen J, Landrum PF (1996) Distribution of organic carbon and organic xenobiotics among different particle-size fractions in sediments. Chemosphere 32:1063–1076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Länge R, Hutchinson TH, Croudace CP, Siegmund F, Schweinfurth H, Hampe P, Panter GH, Sumpter JP (2001) Effects of the synthetic estrogen 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol on the life-cycle of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Environ Toxicol Chem 20:1216–1227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legler J, Dennekamp M, Vethaak AD, Brouwer A, Koeman JH, van der Burg B, Murk AJ (2002) Detection of estrogenic activity in sediment-associated compounds using in vitro reporter gene assays. Sci Total Environ 293:69–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leppänen M (1995) The role of feeding behaviour in bioaccumulation of organic chemicals in benthic organisms. Annales Zoologici Fennici 32:247–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez de Alda MJ, Barceló D (2001) Use of solid-phase extraction in various of its modalities for sample preparation in the determination of estrogens and progestogens in sediment and water. J Chromatography A 938:145–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LUA LR-P (2006) Fischmonitoring Rheinland · Pfalz. Untersuchungsergebnisse aus den Jahren 1999, 2000, 2001 und 2003. Landesuntersuchungsamt Rheinland-Pfalz, Abteilung Lebensmittelchemie, Koblenz, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Lund BO, Bergman A, Brandt I (1988) Metabolic activation and toxicity of a DDT-metabolite, 3-methylsulphonyl-DDE, in the adrenal zona fasciculata in mice. Chem Biol Interact 65:25–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LUWG, Otto A, Weibel U (1999) Entwicklung der Rhein-Auengewässer - Teil 2 - Entwicklungsplan. Mainz, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe CD, Metcalfe TL, Kirparissis Y, Koenig BG, Khan C, Hughes RJ, Croley TR, March RE, Potter T (2001) Estrogenic potency of chemicals detected in sewage treatment plant effluents as determined by in vivo assays with Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Environ Toxicol Chem 20:297–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Molls F (1999) New insights into the migration and habitat use by bream and white bream in the floodplain of the River Rhine. J Fish Biol 55

  • MUFV R (2006) VSG 6816–403 „Karlskopf und Leimersheimer Altrhein“. Natura 2000 - Steckbriefe. Ministerium für Umwelt, Forsten und Verbraucherschutz Rheinland Pfalz, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagel R (2002) DarT: the embryo test with the Zebrafish Danio rerio a general model in ecotoxicology and toxicology. ALTEX 19:38–48

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2004) OECD guideline for testing of chemicals. Daphnia sp. acute immobilisation test (202). OECD Publishing, Paris. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264069947-en

  • Pawlowski S, Ternes T, Bonerz M, Kluczka T, van der Burg B, Nau H, Erdinger L, Braunbeck T (2003) Combined in situ and in vitro assessment of the estrogenic activity of sewage and surface water samples. Toxicol Sci 75:57–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha PS, Luvizotto GL, Kosmehl T, Boettcher M, Storch V, Braunbeck T, Hollert H (2009) Sediment genotoxicity in the Tietê River (São Paulo, Brazil): in vitro comet assay versus in situ micronucleus assay studies. Ecotox Environ Safe 72:1842–1848

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Routledge EJ, Sumpter JP (1996) Estrogenic activity of surfactants and some of their degradation products assessed using a recombinant yeast screen. Environ Toxicol Chem 15:241–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt C, Oetken M, Dittberner O, Wagner M, Oehlmann J (2008) Endocrine modulation and toxic effects of two commonly used UV screens on the aquatic invertebrates Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Lumbriculus variegatus. Environ Pollut 152:322–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schultis T, Metzger JW (2004) Determination of estrogenic activity by LYES-assay (yeast estrogen screen-assay assisted by enzymatic digestion with lyticase). Chemosphere 57:1649–1655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze T, Ulrich M, Maier D, Maier M, Terytze K, Braunbeck T, Hollert H (2015) Evaluation of the hazard potentials of river suspended particulate matter and floodplain soils in the Rhine basin using chemical analysis and in vitro bioassays. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:14606–14620

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seiler T-B, Rastall AC, Leist E, Erdinger L, Braunbeck T, Hollert H (2006) Membrane dialysis extraction (MDE): a novel approach for extracting toxicologically relevant hydrophobic organic compounds from soils and sediments for assessment in biotests. J Soils Sediments 6:20–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seiler T-B, Schulze T, Hollert H (2008) The risk of altering soil and sediment samples upon extract preparation for analytical and bio-analytical investigations—a review. Analytical Bioanalytical Chem 390:1975–1985

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon KR, Sibley P (2002) New concepts in ecological risk assessment: where do we go from here? Marine Pollut Bull 44:279–285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marrquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (2007) Working group I contribution to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK; New York, NY, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Strecker R, Seiler TB, Hollert H, Braunbeck T (2011) Oxygen requirements of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos in embryo toxicity tests with environmental samples. Comparative Biochem Physiol Part C: Toxicol Pharmacol 153:318–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas KV, Balaam J, Hurst M, Nedyalkova Z, Mekenyan O (2004) Potency and characterization of estrogen-receptor agonists in United Kingdom estuarine sediments. Environ Toxicol Chem 23:471–479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tittizer T, Krebs F (1996) Ökosystemforschung: Der Rhein und seine Auen - eine Bilanz. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • UBA (2007) Ökologische Neuorientierung der Bundeswasserstraßenbewirtschaftung (UBA Texte 40/07). Umweltbundesamt, Dessau, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich M (2002) Gefährdung von Trinkwasser durch partikulär gebundene Schadstoffe in den Rheinauen: Vergleich nativer und extrahierter Proben in zwei in vitro Biotests Diploma thesis. Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany, p 73

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1996) Method 3660B—sulfur cleanup. US EPA Methods, US Government Printing Office, Washington, pp 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Brink FWB, Van Katwijk MM, Van der Velde G (1994) Impact of hydrology on phyto- and zooplankton community composition in floodplain lakes along the Lower Rhine and Meuse. J Plankton Res 16:351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincze K, Graf K, Scheil V, Köhler H-R, Triebskorn R (2014) Embryotoxic and proteotoxic effects of water and sediment from the Neckar River (Southern Germany) to zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Environ Sci Eur 26:1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner M, Oehlmann J (2009) Endocrine disruptors in bottled mineral water: total estrogenic burden and migration from plastic bottles. Environ Sci Pollut Res 16:278–286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wernersson A-S, Carere M, Maggi C, Tusil P, Soldan P, James A, Sanchez W, Dulio V, Broeg K, Reifferscheid G, Buchinger S, Maas H, Van Der Grinten E, O’Toole S, Ausili A, Manfra L, Marziali L, Polesello S, Lacchetti I, Mancini L, Lilja K, Linderoth M, Lundeberg T, Fjällborg B, Porsbring T, Larsson DJK, Bengtsson-Palme J, Förlin L, Kienle C, Kunz P, Vermeirssen E, Werner I, Robinson CD, Lyons B, Katsiadaki I, Whalley C, den Haan K, Messiaen M, Clayton H, Lettieri T, Negrão Carvalho R, Gawlik BM, Hollert H, Di Paolo C, Brack W, Kammann U, Kase R (2015) The European technical report on aquatic effect-based monitoring tools under the water framework directive. Environ Sci Eur 27:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wölz J, Cofalla C, Hudjetz S, Roger S, Brinkmann M, Schmidt B, Schäffer A, Kammann U, Lennartz G, Hecker M, Schüttrumpf H, Hollert H (2009) In search for the ecological and toxicological relevance of sediment re-mobilisation and transport during flood events. J Soils Sediments 9:1–5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The present study was embedded into a project by the University Koblenz-Landau investigating the anthropogenic impact on fish populations in the Rhine River. We received funding by the Structural and Approval Directorate South (SGD Süd) and Ministry for Environment, Forestry and Consumer Protection Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The authors would like to thank Dr. N.C. Bols and Dr. L. Lee (University of Waterloo, Canada) for providing RTL-W1 cells and Dr. J. Sumpter for providing yeast cells. Furthermore, we thank Dr. F. Sylvester for helpful comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, 76829, Landau, Germany

    Maria Schulze-Sylvester, Wilko Heimann & Ralf Schulz

  2. Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Sibylle Maletz, Thomas-Benjamin Seiler, Markus Brinkmann, Hanno Zielke & Henner Hollert

  3. College of Resources and Environmental Science, Chongqing University, 1 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Henner Hollert

  4. College of Environmental Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, China

    Henner Hollert

  5. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

    Henner Hollert

  6. IEBI-Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Av. Bolivia 5150, CP 4400, Salta, Argentina

    Maria Schulze-Sylvester

Authors
  1. Maria Schulze-Sylvester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wilko Heimann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sibylle Maletz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas-Benjamin Seiler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Markus Brinkmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hanno Zielke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ralf Schulz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Henner Hollert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Schulze-Sylvester.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Arnold V. Hallare

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schulze-Sylvester, M., Heimann, W., Maletz, S. et al. Are sediments a risk? An ecotoxicological assessment of sediments from a quarry pond of the Upper Rhine River. J Soils Sediments 16, 1069–1080 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1309-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1309-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation